KY3 News in Springfield, Missouri is reporting on a 23-count Federal Grand Jury indictment of an HOA bookkeeper in Branson.
Sarah Underwood is accused of embezzling more than 300,000 dollars from the Fall Creek Condominiums. Of course, she’s innocent until proven guilty. But according to the news media in Missouri, she wrote several checks to herself including one for $80,000!
Dumber than a box of rocks!
Next to jaywalking, embezzling from Homeowners Associations is probably one of the most underreported crimes in America. Tragically it’s only the dumb crooks who get caught. This woman certainly deserves to be a runner-up for the annual Charles Darwin award. That is, if she’s convicted.
The indicted Underwood story comes with many twists and turns and actually includes 4 articles published. It began with her interview at The Majestic Fire, a high end Lake View condo where she and her live-in Nick Ramirez, allegedly both still married to Larry Hill and Sheri Hooten Ramirez, began an office romance and started a company by the name of Mstermind Construction. They in turn fired one Jerry Weatherly who ended up shooting Mr. Ramirez in the knee, Mr. Ramirez went back to wife Sheri and Underwood was arrested with Hill.
A few members were concerned repeatedly and asked for a forensic audit, investigation into conflicting interests and in fact spoke to office personnel who intimated that they knew of mishandling of some kind yet remained quiet, and board members both via email, in person and via telephone. The concern fell on deaf ears. It is my opinion that this could have been avoided had C. Frye and L. Denton paid attention to concerns. The investigation showed that Mr. Frye was actually a signor on one accounts she used and allegedly gave her the only vote of confidence prior to her dismissal.
P. S. The irony of it is that Nick Ramirez and his lawful wife made front cover news in Branson when their Trailer floated down Turkey Creek and they lost everything. There were a handful of Owner Occupied residents that to spite our joint efforts fell victim, along with other owners to a crime that could have been stopped or avoided. G. Newsome was actually named in a suit by Underwood for speaking out. Now J. Wood the person working in the office is suing Sarah Underwood, and the list goes on.
Retraction, J. Clark was the personnel in office, not J. Wood, J. Wood had nothing to do with the office and was in no way involved.
Underwood-Hill was released as was Mr. Hill and Underwood is innocent until proven guilty.